Steel cut oats instant pot almond milk

Instant Pot Oatmeal makes cooking breakfast a breeze because the entire process is hands-off. Making steel cut oats in the instant pot is as easy as 2 ingredients and 1 minute of hands-on time. It’s the perfect breakfast for busy weekday mornings and will keep you feeling full and satisfied until lunch!

Table of Contents Show

Ingredients you’ll need for Instant Pot Oatmeal:
How to make Instant Pot Oatmeal:
Topping ideas:
What is the ratio of water to steel cut oats?
Do you rinse steel cut oats before cooking?
Are steel cut oats healthy?
More breakfast recipes:
Instant Pot recipes:
Can you make steel cut oats with milk instead of water?
Are instant oats as healthy as steel cut oats?
What is the water ratio for steel cut oats?
How do you keep oatmeal from sticking to the Instant Pot?

For the past ten years, I can only tell you a handful of times I’ve actually eaten breakfast on a weekday. Of course, on the weekends I love to whip up something special like this Salted Caramel Banana Bread with Yogurt or these super delicious Mexican Breakfast Tostadas. I mean, you just can’t have a bad day if you start it with good food.

But on the weekdays it’s easy to run out of time before I have to head out the door to work. Since we all know that eating a hearty breakfast is one of the best ways to start your day right, I decided to find some easy recipes that I can make while I am getting ready in the morning.

And when I say easy, I mean EASY.

The Instant Pot is changing my life!

Instant Pot Oatmeal is made with two ingredients – steel cut oats and almond milk (or water). Stir them together, press a button, then hop in the shower while the Instant Pot works its magic! You’ll be greeted by a steaming hot bowl of flavorful, comforting, and nutritious steel cut oatmeal just waiting to usher you into the day.

Regular oats on the top. Steel cut oats on the bottom.

Ingredients you’ll need for Instant Pot Oatmeal:

You only need two ingredients! First up, steel cut oats.

Second, a liquid of choice: I use vanilla almond milk to give my oats a ton of flavor right from the get-go, but you could also use water. Do NOT use regular milk as it can scorch during the cooking process.

How to make Instant Pot Oatmeal:

While the Instant Pot doesn’t make everything in an “instant” it does make cooking so much easier and hands-free. In this case, preparing steel cut oats in the traditional stovetop method would take about 40 minutes, the whole time of which you need to babysit and stir them.

Instant Pot steel cut oats, on the other hand, only need 4 minutes of cooking time, plus 10 minutes for the pressure to build and 10 minutes for the pressure to release. So a total of about 25 minutes, 24 of which are completely hands-free! Here are the steps:

Spray the liner of your Instant Pot with cooking spray. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup that much easier.
Add steel cut oats, your liquid of choice, and a bit of salt to the Instant Pot. Then close the lid and set the steaming valve to “sealing.”
Push manual button and set to 4 minutes.
Walk away and forget it! It will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure, 4 minutes to cook, then 10 more minutes to release the pressure.
Add toppings of choice. You can dress these up however you want. See below for a list of topping ideas.

Topping ideas:

Instant Pot steel cut oats are made extra delicious by adding a few toppings! You can honestly use anything you like, but here are some of my favorite toppings.

Sweeteners – A drizzle of honey or maple syrup is perfect.
Fruit – Fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, apples, bananas, or pears are all good choices.
Nuts – Walnuts, pecans, or almonds are delicious.
Nut butters – Peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter add a little extra creaminess.
Other toppings – I love to add coconut flakes, a sprinkle of cinnamon, a dash of cocoa powder, or dried fruit. Get creative!

What is the ratio of water to steel cut oats?

For every cup of steel cut oats you need 2 1/2 cups of liquid. If you prefer slightly looser oatmeal, you can add an extra 1/4 cup of liquid for every cup of oats.

Do you rinse steel cut oats before cooking?

There is no need to rinse the oats before cooking. The Instant Pot makes them soft and tender with no problem.

Are steel cut oats healthy?

Yes, it’s such a great option for a healthy breakfast. Steel cut oats are packed with fiber (even more than rolled oats) and protein. They are also naturally gluten-free, a great source of iron, and a long-lasting source of energy.

More breakfast recipes:

Avocado and Kale Savory Oatmeal
Instant Pot Sous Vide Egg Bites (Starbucks copycat)
Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bowls
Salted Caramel Banana Bread with Yogurt
Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl
Blueberry White Chocolate Quinoa Breakfast Cookies

Instant Pot recipes:

Instant Pot Bone Broth
Steamed Artichokes in the Instant Pot
Instant Pot Glazed Corned Beef & Cabbage
The Best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Sausage & Kale
Instant Pot Cheesy Southwestern Lentils & Brown Rice

If you loved this Instant Pot Oatmeal recipe I would appreciate it so much if you would give it star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Cooking spray
2 cups Bob’s Red Mill steel cut oats
5 cups vanilla almond milk (or water (do NOT use dairy milk – it will burn))
Pinch of salt (optional)

Lightly coat Instant Pot with cooking spray.
Add oats, almond milk, and salt to Instant Pot.
Make sure your sealing ring is in place on the lid. Lock the lid onto Instant Pot and set the steam release knob to the “sealing” position.
Press the “manual” button and set Instant Pot for high pressure for 4 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes for Instant Pot to come to full pressure, then the display will show a countdown timer.
Once the 4 minutes are up, allow the pressure to release naturally. It will take about 10-12 minutes, then the float valve will drop. Open the lid and stir the oatmeal, adding additional milk if you would like a thinner consistency.
Serve topped with fresh fruit, coconut flakes, honey, or any other toppings you enjoy.

Steel cut oats: I’m a huge fan of the Bob’s Red Mill brand, they’ve even won several world championships for their oatmeal, it’s just that good.

Storage: Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to five days.

This post was originally published in 2018. It was updated in 2021 to add new photographs and information. The original recipe remains. Enjoy!

Can you make steel cut oats with milk instead of water?

STEP ONE: Pick Your Liquid. For every 1 cup of steel cut oats, you'll need 3 1/2 to 4 cups of liquid, depending upon how thick you'd like them to be (less liquid = thicker steel cut oatmeal). I like to do a mix of water and milk to make the steel cut oats extra creamy. You can use any kind of milk you like.

Are instant oats as healthy as steel cut oats?

Although steel-cut oats contain a bit more fiber and are lower on the glycemic index, don't discount rolled and quick oats. All three types are highly nutritious and excellent sources of fiber, plant-based protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

What is the water ratio for steel cut oats?

BEST ANSWER: To prepare one serving of Steel Cut Oats, use 1/4 Cup of Steel Cut Oats and 3/4 cup of water.

How do you keep oatmeal from sticking to the Instant Pot?

Add rolled oats and water and/or dairy-free milk to the Instant Pot and stir to prevent sticking (use the lesser amount of liquid for more textured oats and the greater amount for more porridgy).